Camera for a motor vehicle and motor vehicle

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a camera (2) for a motor vehicle (1) including a housing (5) configured to shield electromagnetic radiation at least in certain areas, including a circuit board (16) disposed in the housing (5), and including an interface device (11) for connecting the camera (2) to the motor vehicle (1), wherein the interface device (11) is electrically connected to the circuit board (16), wherein the interface device (11) includes a coaxial plug (12) with an inner conductor (13) and an outer conductor (14) and the camera (2) has a connecting device (17) for electrically connecting the outer conductor (14) to the housing (5).

The invention relates to a camera for a motor vehicle with a housing configured to shield electromagnetic radiation at least in certain areas, including a circuit board disposed in the housing and including an interface device for connecting the camera to the motor vehicle. The interface device is electrically connected to the circuit board. In addition, the invention relates to a motor vehicle with at least one camera.

Cameras for motor vehicles are known from the prior art. Thus, these cameras mostly have a housing, a circuit board and an interface device for connecting the camera to the motor vehicle. Electromagnetic radiation is emitted from further components of the camera such as for example an imaging chip, a video serializer or a current supply. This is undesired and is attempted to shield as possible, for example by the housing, to increase an electromagnetic compatibility (EMC). The electromagnetic compatibility characterizes the usually desired condition that technical appliances do not interfere with each other by undesired electromagnetic effects.

It is the object of the invention to provide a camera, by which the electromagnetic compatibility can be more reliably achieved. It is also the object to form a motor vehicle with such a camera.

According to the invention, this object is solved by a camera as well as by a motor vehicle having the features according to the respective independent claims.

A camera according to the invention for a motor vehicle includes a housing configured to shield electromagnetic radiation at least in certain areas, a circuit board disposed in the housing and an interface device for connecting the camera to the motor vehicle. The interface device is electrically connected to the circuit board. According to the invention, it is provided that the interface device includes a coaxial plug with an inner conductor and an outer conductor and the camera has a connecting device for electrically connecting the outer conductor to the housing.

By the camera according to the invention for the motor vehicle, it becomes possible to ensure the electromagnetic compatibility. In addition, the housing can be particularly effectively electrically connected to the outer conductor by the connecting device. The connecting device also allows reliable compensation for manufacturing inaccuracies of the housing and/or the outer conductor and/or the circuit board. Thus, the housing is for example connected to a ground potential of the circuit board via the outer conductor. By connecting the housing to the ground potential, the housing can particularly effectively shield the electromagnetic radiation. Thus, it can for example occur that the coaxial plug is not concentrically disposed in an opening of the housing. In order to counteract this case of manufacturing inaccuracy, the connecting device is used. The coaxial plug or a coaxial connector serves for detachably connecting coaxial cables. The coaxial plug is coaxially designed like the coaxial cable to be able to provide a low electromagnetic interference and a good electrical shielding. Thus, the coaxial plug can for example be a so called FAKRA connector.

In particular, it is provided that the connecting device is formed elastically deformable. By the elastic deformability of the connecting device, deviations in the manufacturing accuracy of the housing and/or the coaxial plug can be compensated for. Thus, despite of the manufacturing inaccuracy and deviations of the dimensions of the housing and/or the coaxial plug, respectively, the electrical connection of the outer conductor of the coaxial plug to the housing can be reliably provided.

Preferably, it is provided that the connecting device has at least one spring element, which exerts a spring force on the housing and/or the outer conductor in the assembled state of the camera. In particular, the spring element is a component yielding under load and returning into the original shape after relief, thus behaves elastically restoring. In the assembled state of the camera, thus when the housing is closed and the circuit board is connected to the coaxial plug, the spring force is exerted on the housing and/or the outer conductor by the connecting device. This has the advantage that the connecting device can adapt itself to the distance if a distance from the outer conductor to the housing is greater or less than expected. Furthermore, it is advantageous that the connecting device can also adapt itself if the distance between the outer conductor and the housing varies during the assembled state, for example due to a temperature variation, to provide the electrical connection.

Furthermore, it is preferably provided that the connecting device surrounds the outer conductor at least in certain areas. This means that the connecting device is preferably disposed around the outer conductor. Thus, the connecting device is preferably located on the side of the outer conductor facing away from the inner conductor. It is advantageous that the coaxial plug can therefore be connected to the motor vehicle in a manner undisturbed or unimpeded by the connecting device. Furthermore, the outer conductor can be prevented from establishing an electrical connection to the inner conductor via the connecting device. In particular, thereby, the ground potential of the outer conductor does not get into connection with the inner conductor. In addition, an assembly of the connecting device can be simply performed.

In a further embodiment, it is preferably provided that the connecting device is formed as a serrated washer. The connecting device can be formed in the manner of a serrated washer. The serrated washer can for example be internally and/or externally toothed. However, the serrated washer preferably has the teeth on an inner side to thereby have good retention to the outer conductor. The teeth of the serrated washer can for example be distorted and thus be formed as the spring element. Additionally or alternatively, however, the teeth can also be axially bent out with respect to the rotational axis of the serrated washer to function as the spring element. The teeth can be bent out in uniform manner, thus only to one direction of the rotational axis of the serrated washer, or else in crossed manner, thus for example alternately one tooth into the one direction of the rotational axis and another tooth into the other direction of the rotational axis. The teeth of the serrated washer can therefore exert a spring force in the axial direction of the outer conductor in the assembled state of the camera, thus when the serrated washer surrounds the outer conductor and the spring elements are biased. For example, the serrated washer can be used to secure a screw. In the assembled state, the teeth of the serrated washer abut the inner side of the housing and thus establish the electrical connection of the outer conductor to the housing. The serrated washer rests on the outer conductor and/or is in contact with or electrically connected to it via the teeth of the serrated washer.

Furthermore, it can be provided that the connecting device has a first annular element and a second annular element, which are disposed spaced from each other, wherein the first annular element and the second annular element each have a through-opening disposed aligned with each other, and wherein the first annular element and the second annular element are connected by the at least one spring element. In assembling the camera, the connecting device with the through-openings is fitted onto the outer conductor such that the connecting device surrounds the outer conductor. By the at least one spring element a spring force can be received and/or delivered in axial direction with respect to the coaxial plug. With assembled camera, thus closed housing, the spring element is compressed because the first annular element abuts the circuit board on the first end of the outer conductor in form-fit manner, and the second annular element oppositely abuts an inner side of the housing in form-fit manner. Thus, a particularly reliable electrical connection between the housing and the outer conductor can be provided.

In particular, it is provided that the at least one spring element has a predetermined curvature. The predetermined curvature is preferably determined such that a distance including a predetermined manufacturing tolerance between the housing and the outer conductor near the circuit board can be covered or bridged with the connecting device. Furthermore, the predetermined curvature is preferably adapted such that the connecting device is elastically deformable in the assembled state of the camera. Thus, a spring force can for example be permanently exerted on the housing and the outer conductor by the connecting device.

In a further embodiment, it is preferably provided that the connecting device has a plurality of spring elements disposed distributed along a circumferential direction of the connecting device. In particular, the spring elements can be disposed uniformly distributed to each other along the circumferential direction. By the plurality of spring elements, the force exerted on the connecting device by mounting or assembling the housing and the outer conductor can be uniformly received. By the plurality of spring elements, increased safety in electrically connecting the outer conductor to the housing can also be provided. For example, if one of the spring elements fails, thus, the spring force and thus the electrical connection of the outer conductor to the housing can further be provided.

Furthermore, it can be provided that the outer conductor includes a first partial element and a second partial element, which is disposed between the first partial element and the circuit board, wherein a first outer radius of the first partial element is less than a second outer radius of the second partial element. The first partial element in particular establishes the connection to a plug connected to the coaxial plug in order to for example connect the camera to the motor vehicle. The second partial element has a contact area extending in radial direction with respect to the coaxial plug due to the larger second outer radius. The contact area is preferably provided to set the connecting device on the side of the outer conductor. A particularly reliable electrical connection of the outer conductor to the housing can be provided by the second partial element.

Furthermore, it can be provided that the second annular element of the connecting device is electrically connected to the second partial element of the outer conductor. Thus, a particularly reliable electrical connection between the outer conductor and the housing can be provided by means of the connecting device. The second annular element can thus rest on a contact area of the second partial element disposed radially to the coaxial plug and receive the force arising in assembling the camera in axial direction of the coaxial plug from there.

In a further embodiment, it is preferably provided that the housing has a receiving element on an inner side facing the circuit board, in which the connecting device is disposed at least in certain areas and which is electrically connected to the connecting device. Thus, the receiving element of the housing can for example ensure that the connecting device has a secure retention at the location, at which the connecting device is connected to the housing. This can have an advantage in the assembly of the housing and provide a secure electrical connection of the outer conductor to the housing. By the receiving element, a surface, by which the housing is connected to or in contact with the connecting device, can be increased. Thus, the connecting device preferably abuts the housing for example not only with the first annular element, but additionally or alternatively with the at least one spring element of the connecting device. The electrical connection of the outer conductor to the housing and thus the electrical connection of the housing to the ground potential of the circuit board can therefore be particularly reliably and robustly provided.

In a further embodiment, it can be provided that the housing includes a first housing part and a second housing part. Thus, the first housing part is electrically connected to the outer conductor and thus to the ground potential of the circuit board via the connecting device. The second housing part is in turn electrically connected to the first housing part for example via screws and thus also electrically connected to the ground potential. Thus, the entire housing is preferably electrically connected to the ground potential and can particularly effectively shield the electromagnetic radiation from the components within the camera and prevent it from exiting the housing. In the same manner, by the housing, electromagnetic radiation can be prevented from entering the housing from the outside. In this manner, the electromagnetic compatibility can be achieved.

For example, the housing can be manufactured from aluminum. Additionally, the interface device can have an electrically insulating element manufactured from plastic. The interface device in particular serves for data transfer between the camera and a communication bus of the motor vehicle. The camera can also be supplied with electrical energy from an on-board network of the motor vehicle via the interface device.

Furthermore, it can be provided that the interface device is configured as a high-speed data plug, in particular as an HSD Rosenberger plug. Thus, the HSD Rosenberger plug is for example a component of a connector system providing an impedance-controlled 100 Ohm connection to transfer data with high speed. The HSD Rosenberger plug can for example be based on the star quad principle. Spurious signals by crosstalk and external interference sources are in particular prevented. Thus, a particularly effective connection with little spurious signals from the camera to the motor vehicle is advantageous.

In particular, it is provided that the outer conductor is electrically connected to a ground potential of the camera. The ground potential can for example be provided by the circuit board and/or by the motor vehicle. By electrically connecting the outer conductor to the ground potential of the camera, the housing of the camera can also be electrically connected to the ground potential of the camera by the connecting device. Thus, hereby, the electromagnetic compatibility is also again ensured.

The invention also includes a motor vehicle with a camera according to the invention or an advantageous implementation thereof. The motor vehicle is in particular formed as a passenger car.

The preferred embodiments presented with respect to the camera according to the invention and the advantages thereof correspondingly apply to the motor vehicle according to the invention.

Further features of the invention are apparent from the claims, the figures and the description of figures. The features and feature combinations mentioned above in the description as well as the features and feature combinations mentioned below in the description of figures and/or shown in the figures alone are usable not only in the respectively specified combination, but also in other combinations or alone, without departing from the scope of the invention. Thus, implementations are also to be considered as encompassed and disclosed by the invention, which are not explicitly shown in the figures and explained, but arise from and can be generated by separated feature combinations from the explained implementations. Implementations and feature combinations are also to be considered as disclosed, which thus do not have all of the features of an originally formulated independent claim.

Below, embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail based on schematic drawings.

There show:

FIG. 1 in schematic plan view an embodiment of a motor vehicle according to the invention with a camera;

FIG. 2 a perspective view of the camera with a housing and an interface device including a coaxial plug;

FIG. 3 a perspective view of a further embodiment of the camera with the housing and an interface device, which is configured as a high-speed data plug;

FIG. 4 a schematic exploded illustration of the camera with an opened housing, which includes a first housing part and a second housing part, and a connecting device;

FIG. 5 a schematic exploded illustration of the camera analogously to FIG. 4, but from another perspective;

FIG. 6 a schematic exploded illustration of a further embodiment of the camera with the opened housing and a connecting device with the high-speed data plug;

FIG. 7 a schematic exploded illustration of the camera analogously to FIG. 6, but from another perspective;

FIG. 8 a schematic sectional illustration of the camera analogously to FIG. 2, wherein the connecting device is electrically connected to an outer conductor of the interface device and the housing; and

FIG. 9 a schematic sectional illustration of the camera analogously to FIG. 3, wherein the connecting device is electrically connected to the outer conductor and the housing.

In FIG. 1, a plan view of a motor vehicle 1 with a camera 2 according to an embodiment of the invention is schematically illustrated. The arrangement of the camera 2 on the motor vehicle 1 is arbitrary, however preferably such that an environmental region 3 of the motor vehicle 1 and/or an internal area 4 of the motor vehicle 1 can be captured. The motor vehicle 1 can also include multiple such cameras 2. The camera 2 can be a CMOS (complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor) camera or else a CCD (charge-coupled device) camera or any image capturing device.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the camera 2 in a first embodiment. In this embodiment, the camera 2 includes a housing 5 with a first housing part 6 and a second housing part 7. The first housing part 6 and the second housing part 7 are connected to each other by at least one screw 8 according to the embodiment. The first housing part 6 and/or the second housing part 7 can for example be manufactured from aluminum. According to the embodiment, the camera 2 furthermore includes a valve 9 and a lens 10.

In addition, the camera 2 has an interface device 11. The interface device 11 serves for data transfer and can be connected to a corresponding interface of a communication bus of the motor vehicle 1. The interface device 11 includes a coaxial plug 12 with an inner conductor 13 and an outer conductor 14. In addition, the interface device 11 has a connector envelope 26, which can for example be manufactured from plastic. The connector envelope 26 is in particular disposed outside of the housing 5. The connector envelope 26 for example serves for locking a cable harness of the motor vehicle 1, by which the camera 2 can be connected to the motor vehicle 1.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the camera 2 in a second embodiment. Here too, the camera 2 has the housing 5 with the first housing part 6 and the second housing part 7. The first housing part 6 and the second housing part 7 are also connected by the screw 8. According to FIG. 3, the interface device 11 is formed as a high-speed data plug, in particular an HSD Rosenberger plug 15. The HSD Rosenberger plug 15 is for example configured for high-speed data transfer.

FIG. 4 shows the embodiment of the camera 2 according to FIG. 2 in an exploded illustration. Here, the first housing part 6 and the second housing part 7 are opened. A circuit board 16 is disposed within the housing 5. The coaxial plug 12 with the inner conductor 13 and the outer conductor 14 is disposed on the circuit board 16. According to the embodiment, the outer conductor 14 is connected to a ground potential of the camera 2. In order that the first housing part 6 is also electrically connected to the ground potential of the camera 2, a connecting device 17 is provided, which surrounds the outer conductor 14 in the assembled state of the camera 2.

According to FIG. 4, the connecting device 17 has a first annular element 18 and a second annular element 19. The first annular element 18 and the second annular element 19 are disposed spaced from each other. The first annular element 18 has a first through-opening 20, and the second annular element 19 has a second through-opening 21. The first through-opening 20 and the second through-opening 21 are disposed aligned with each other. This means, the first through-opening 20 and the second through-opening 21 are in alignment. The first annular element 18 and the second annular element 19 are connected by multiple spring elements 22. The spring elements 22 have a predetermined curvature such that the connecting device 17 obtains a spherical overall shape.

The outer conductor 14 has a first partial element 23 and a second partial element 24. The first partial element 23 has a smaller outer radius than the second partial element 24. Thus, the second partial element 24 disposed closer to the circuit board 16 than the first partial element 23 has a contact area 25. The contact area 25 is that part of the second partial element 24, which is located in the main extension direction of the circuit board 16 and thus is formed radially to the coaxial plug 12.

If the housing 5 is now closed by moving the first housing part 6 and the second housing part 7 towards each other, thus, the connecting device 17 abuts the contact area 25 of the second partial element 24 with the second annular element 19 and abuts the first housing part 6 or the inner side, thus the side of the first housing part 6 facing the circuit board 16, with the first annular element 18. By the abutment of the first annular element 18 and the second annular element 19, upon further approach of the first housing part 6 to the second housing part 7, an axial force is exerted on the connecting device 17 with respect to the coaxial plug 12. In particular, the force is received by the spring elements 22, which consequently are elastically deformed.

In the assembled state of the camera 2, the spring elements 22 thus establish the electrical connection between the outer conductor 14 and the first housing part 6. Thus, the first housing part 6 is also electrically connected to the ground potential of the camera 2. Therefore, the first housing part 6 acts shielding with respect to electromagnetic radiation.

In the assembled state, the first housing part 6 is electrically conductively connected to the second housing part 7 by means of the screw 8 according to the embodiment. Thus, there is also an electrical connection between the second housing part 7 and the ground potential of the camera 2. Thus, the second housing part 7 in particular also acts shielding with respect to electromagnetic radiation. Preferably, the housing 5 thus acts completely shielding with respect to electromagnetic radiation.

FIG. 5 shows the camera 2 analogously to FIG. 4 from another perspective. From the other perspective, an inner side 27 of the first housing part 6 is shown, which faces the circuit board 16. On the inner side 27 of the first housing part 6, according to the embodiment, a receiving element 28 is present. In the receiving element 28, the connecting device 17 can be disposed in certain areas. The connecting device 17 is disposed in the receiving element 28 in particular with the first annular element 18. Thus, the electrical connection between the first housing part 6 and the connecting device 17 can be provided. The receiving element 28 is abutted around a housing opening 29 of the first housing part 6. The coaxial plug 12 is led out of the interior of the camera 2 or the housing 5 through the housing opening 29. In the view of FIG. 5, the second through-opening 21 is also clearly shown, which incorporates the outer conductor 14 after fitting onto the coaxial plug 12.

FIG. 6 shows the camera 2 analogously to FIG. 3 in an exploded illustration. In this embodiment, the camera 2 includes the HSD Rosenberger plug 15. The HSD Rosenberger plug 15 results in the connector envelope 26 being disposed closer to the circuit board 16. This is allowed via a depression 30 on an outer side 31 of the first housing part 6. The outer side 31 is disposed opposite to the inner side 27. By the closer location of the housing opening 29 to the circuit board 16—compared to FIG. 5—the connecting device 17 is in particular formed as a serrated washer 32. According to the embodiment, the serrated washer 32 has internal teeth. Thus, the serrated washer 32 is in particular internally toothed. The teeth are preferably each formed as the spring element 22. Thus, the spring elements 22 according to FIG. 6 also can receive an axial force with respect to the coaxial plug 12 and provide it as the spring force. By providing the spring force, the electrical connection between the contact area 25 of the second partial element 24 of the outer conductor 14 and the inner side 27 of the first housing part 6 can be reliably provided even if a distance between the first housing part 6 and the contact area 25 varies in the range of the spring effect. Thus, the serrated washer 32 has spring elements 22 radially extending with respect to the coaxial plug 12 in its inner side. The spring elements 22 are preferably uniformly disposed on the serrated washer.

FIG. 7 shows the camera 2 analogously to FIG. 6, also in an exploded illustration, but in another perspective. The connecting device 17 as the serrated washer 32 is located between the first housing part 6 and the second housing part 7. The serrated washer 32 has internal spring elements 22. The serrated washer 32 abuts the inner side 27 of the first housing part 6 with one side. Furthermore, the serrated washer 32 abuts the second partial element 24 with the opposing side. Thus, an electrical connection of the outer conductor 14 and the first housing part 6 is established. Thus, the first housing part 6 now is also electrically conductively connected to the ground potential of the camera 2. In case of the embodiment according to FIG. 7 with the HSD Rosenberger plug 15, the first housing part 6 preferably does not have a receiving element 28. The area in the region of the housing opening 29 on the inner side 27 of the first housing part 6 is in particular flat.

FIG. 8 shows a sectional illustration analogously to the embodiment of FIG. 2. The first housing part 6 and the second housing part 7 are combined such that the housing 5 is closed. The connecting device 17 is now applied with an axial force with respect to the coaxial plug 12. The respective spring elements 22 yield in radial direction with respect to the coaxial plug 12 or the spring elements 22 bounce in radial direction with respect to the coaxial plug 12. By the spring force of the spring elements 22, the first annular element 18 and the second annular element 19 are pressed apart from each other or departed from each other such that the first annular element 18 is pressed to the receiving element 28 of the first housing part 6 and the second annular element 19 is pressed to the contact area 25 of the second partial element 24 of the outer conductor 14. Thus, the first housing part 6 and the outer conductor 14 are electrically connected by means of the connecting device 17.

FIG. 9 shows a schematic sectional illustration of the camera 2 analogously to the embodiment of FIG. 3. By the HSD Rosenberger plug 15, the first housing part 6 is closer to the second housing part 7 compared to the embodiment of FIG. 8. The electrical connection between the first housing part 6 and the contact area 25 of the second partial element 24 of the outer conductor 14 is provided by means of the serrated washer 32. The serrated washer 32 has the spring elements 22, which are disposed as teeth on the serrated washer 32 and are distorted such that they are disposed to the bottom in axial direction with respect to the coaxial plug 12, thus towards the circuit board 16, and/or to the top, thus away from the circuit board 16. By the spring elements 22, thus, a force can also be received in axial direction with respect to the coaxial plug 12. Thereby, the connecting device 17 can in particular permanently be pressed to the first housing part 6 and the outer conductor 14 by the spring force of the biased spring elements 22. According to the embodiment of FIG. 9 with the HSD Rosenberger plug 15, the coaxial plug 12 has two inner conductors 13. 

The invention claimed is:
 1. A camera for a motor vehicle, comprising: a housing configured to shield electromagnetic radiation at least in certain areas; a circuit board disposed in the housing; and an interface device for connecting the camera to the motor vehicle, wherein the interface device is electrically connected to the circuit board, wherein the interface device includes a coaxial plug with an inner conductor and an outer conductor and the camera has a connecting device for electrically connecting the outer conductor to the housing, and wherein the connecting device comprises: at least one spring element, which exerts a spring force on the housing and/or the outer conductor in the assembled state of the camera, and a first annular element and a second annular element disposed spaced from each other, wherein the first annular element and the second annular element each have a through-opening disposed aligned with each other, and wherein the first annular element and the second annular element are connected by the at least one spring element.
 2. The camera according to claim 1, wherein the connecting device is formed elastically deformable.
 3. The camera according to claim 1, wherein the connecting device surrounds the outer conductor at least in certain areas.
 4. The camera according to claim 1, wherein the connecting device is formed as a serrated washer.
 5. The camera according to claim 1, wherein the at least one spring element has a predetermined curvature.
 6. The camera according to claim 1, wherein the outer conductor includes a first partial element and a second partial element disposed between the first partial element and the circuit board, wherein a first outer radius of the first partial element is less than a second outer radius of the second partial element.
 7. The camera according to claim 6, wherein the second annular element of the connecting device is electrically connected to the second partial element of the outer conductor.
 8. The camera according to claim 1, wherein the housing has a receiving element on an inner side facing the circuit board, in which the connecting device is disposed at least in certain areas and which is electrically connected to the connecting device.
 9. The camera according to claim 1, wherein the housing includes a first housing part and a second housing part, wherein the first housing part is electrically connected to the connecting device and to the second housing part.
 10. The camera according to claim 1, wherein the interface device is configured as a high-speed data plug.
 11. The camera according to claim 1, wherein the outer conductor is electrically connected to a ground potential of the camera.
 12. A motor vehicle with a camera according to claim
 1. 13. A camera for a motor vehicle, comprising: a housing configured to shield electromagnetic radiation at least in certain areas; a circuit board disposed in the housing; and an interface device for connecting the camera to the motor vehicle, wherein the interface device is electrically connected to the circuit board, wherein the interface device includes a coaxial plug with an inner conductor and an outer conductor and the camera has a connecting device for electrically connecting the outer conductor to the housing, wherein the connecting device has at least one of a plurality of spring elements, which exerts a spring force on the housing and/or the outer conductor in the assembled state of the camera, and wherein the plurality of spring elements are disposed distributed along a circumferential direction of the connecting device. 